Outdoor switch box



Nov. 5, 1946.

c. OPALEK OUTDOOR SWITCH BOX Filed Oct. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Nov.5, 1946. Q PAL K- 2,410,519

OUTDOOR SWITCH BOX Filed Oct. 27, 1943 2 SheetS-SheeiB !NVENTOR 61 /14 45; Ol /145 75w,

ATIORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UN I TED STATES PATENT "O FFI'CE LOUTDOOR SWITCH BOX Charles Opalek, BrooklumlNiY.

ApplicationiOctober"27, 1943, Serial N0. '507,"77=1 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an outdoor .control box for electrically operated garage .doors or the like and has for an object to :prov-ide-a control box of the above type which is illuminated :for night use and is shieldedfrom the elements.

Another object is to provide a control box of the above type having novel and improved characteristics.

The invention is applicable .to a control system of the general type disclosed in my co-pending application "Ser. No. 445,691, filed June 4, 1942, now Patent No. 2,342,597, .fOI Door operating mechanism, which Shows "a garage door electrically opera-ted by .a :remotely located push button typeswitch. frhe'sw-itch is :locatedin a box .on an outside pedestal .located at lt'h'exedge of the drive- --way within reach-ofzthe driver.

In accordance with the present invention, the control box is provided with .a protecting cover having overhanging sides to :protect the box against :rain 'or descending frost and having a socket formed in its under surface to receive a small light bulb. 'The under side of the cover, particularly in the overhanging portion, is provided-with arefiecting surface'which reflects rays from the light :bulb downwardly a-roundthe control box and around its supporting pedestal so as to floodlight the same. In one embodiment the cover'is attached to asswitch plate whichcarries the control switches and forms the front -of the box and is arranged to be removab'le forxreplacement of the light "bulb. A "locked door is provided over the front .of the switch plate to enclose the switches. Thearrangement is such that .the light bulb can .only be removed or replaced when the door of the box is'open'ed. Hence the bulb cannot be removed or the switches operated by unauthorized persons.

Although the novel features which are believed to becharacteristic of this invention arepointed out more particularly in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself may be better un.

'derstood by referring to the following description.

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which aspecific.embodimentthereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view-of anoutdoor switch box embodying the present invention and its immediate environment;

"commensurate with the state of the :art.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the invention is shown .as applied to an outdoor switch box 10 (Fig. .1) mounted on a pedestal I I having-a base "I 2 securedinear the edge of a driveway li l leading to a garage 1.5 having hinged .doors 16 which .are electrically operated by suitable means such as the mechanism disclosed in my 'copending application above referred to, and are controlled bya switch to be described carried by the switch box :I d.

Theswitch box it comprises an outlet box 20, of the type commonly used for electric outlets,

having a normally open front provided with flanges 21 suited to receive a switch plate and having a threaded socket ZZsecured on the pedestal iii.

Aswitch plate 38 is attached to the flanges 2| by means of screws 31 and forms a closure for the .box 26. The switch plate carries a push-button type switch 32 which is adapted to electrically operate the garage doors, and a second switch 33 which is connected in the l'ightcircuit to be described.

The switch plate 30 carries an overhanging,

canopy-like cover 35 which is secured to the top corners of the plate by suitable'means, such as welds. The cover is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with an axial recessed protuberance 36 which opens downwardly and is adapted to receive a socket 3"! for a light bulb 38.

The cover '35 covers theentire top surface of thebox -20 and extends outwardly toprovide overhanging eaves which are adapted to protect the entirebox -trorn-the elements. The outer edge of the cover-35 1s provided-with a downturned flange 4B which-extends at least below thetop of the "box 2%). v

Theundersurface M of the cover 35 is'provided with a "light reflecting surface "and extends at an angle suited to reflect the light rays from the bulb 33 downwardly around the outer surface of the box 28 and around the pedestal l-l,,as indicated in Figs. 1 and '3. The surface .4! isshown as generally parabolic and as curved .to provide a space for passage of 'lightrays above the top-of the plate 3%., The reflecting surface maybe formed by plating or by polishing the .material of thecover. Thecoverliifi .isspaced-above-the top of the box 20 a sufficient distance to provide clearance for the light raysas above mentioned and for the bulb 38, being secured only to the top corners of the plate 30. Current is supplied to in series with the line 42 and the bulb 38.

3 the socket 3'! by means of a line 42 which extends through an opening 43 in the top of the box 20.

The front of the box 20 is enclosed by a door 59 provided with inturned side and top flanges whichengage the switch plate and space the door therefrom to provide clearance for the switches 32 and 33. The switch plate 30 is provided with a top flange 52 which extends above the top flange 5| for shielding the same and preventing the entrance of rain or moisture be tween the switch plate and the door.

The door 50 is provided with top and bottom hinge lugs 55 and 56 which engage apertures in the top flange 52 and in a bracket 5'! respectively. The bracket 57 is provided with a flange 58 which is attachedto the switch plate 3! by -means, shown as screws 59. The bracket 51 also serves to form a shield andclosure for the lower edge of the door.

The switch plate 321 is provided with an opening 60 to receive a lock 61 carried by the door 5|]. The lock 6| includes a lockin tongue 62 which engages in back of a flange 63 formed on the switch plate 30. The flange 63 may of course be formed on a separate element attached to the .inside of the switch plate if desired. The arrangement is such that the tongue 62 may be released only by key 64.

As shown in Fig. 6, the switch 32 is connected to a line H! which leads to the garage door operating mechanism. The switch 33 is connected The leads extend downwardly through the pedestal II in a cable 72. The switch 33 is preferably of the type which successively closes and opens a circuit on alternate actuations. Hence only a single button is required. It is to be understood, however, that the switch may be of any desired type, depending upon the space available within the box 28. The switch 32 is preferably of the push button type and is arranged to start the actuation of the garage doors when pushed and tion has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is capable. of various adaptations as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be restricted in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

released as set forth more in detail in my 00- pending application above referred to.

It will be noted that the entire switch plate is enclosed by the door 59 so that none of the parts is accessible except to one having the key. When it is desired to open the garage doors'it is only necessary to reach out of the car, unlock and open the door and press the button 32. The doors may be closed in the same manner.

The bulb 38 is arranged so that the entire outer surface of the switch box and pedestal is floodlighted so as to throw light on the keyhole when the door is closed and on the push buttons when the door is open. If a small bulb 38 is used it maybe preferable to leave the same permanently in the circuit. In thisevent, the switch 33 may be omitted.

In. order to remove or replace the bulb 38 it is necessary first to unlock the door 50 and then to remove the screws 3! which permit the switch plate. 30 and the cover 35 to be removed from What is claimed is: a

1. An outdoor switch mechanism comprising a box fixed upon a suitable support having an open side and having electrical connection leading to .the interior thereof, a switch plate removably secured to the open side of the box, switch mechanism on the plate operable from the exterior and controlling the electrical connection on the interior of the box, a door hinged to the box and adapted when closed to cover the switch plate, a canopy cover secured to the switch plate and spaced from the top of the box and extending beyond the sides thereof, and a source of light in the cover, the underside of the cover being reflective and shaped to reflect the light from said source downward on all sides and flood-light the box and its support.

2. An outdoor switch mechanism comprising a suitably supported box with electrical connection leading to the interior thereof, switch mechanism on one side of the box controlling the electrical connection in the box and having a part manually operable upon the exterior of the box, a canopy cover for the box spaced from the top and extending beyond the sides thereof, means accessible on the said side of the box removably attaching the cover to the box, a source of light controlled by said switch mechanism and disposed underneath the cover in light reflecting relation thereto, and a door hinged to the box and adapted when closed to cover the switch mechanism and the said attaching means.

3. An outdoor switch mechanism comprising a suitably supported box with electrical connection leading to the interior thereof, switch mechanism on one side of the box controlling the electrical connection in the box and having a part manually operable upon the exterior of the box, a canopy cover for the box spaced from the top and extending beyond the sides thereof, means accessible on the said side of the box removably attaching the cover to the'box, a source of light controlled by said switch mechanism and disposed underneath the cover in light reflecting relation thereto, a door hinged to the box and adapted when closed to cover the switch mechanism andthe said attaching means and a lock-mechanism carried by the door and cooperative with the said side of the box to lock the door in closed position.

' 4. An outdoor switch mechanism comprising a suitably supported box having an open side and electrical connection leading to the interior thereof, a switch plate, means removably securing the switch plate to the open side of the box, switch mechanism on the plate operable from the exterior and controlling the electrical connection on the interior of the box, a door hinged to the box and adapted when closed to cover the switch mechanism and the securing means of the switch plate, a canopy cover integrally attached to the switch plate and spaced from the top ofthe box and extending beyond the sides thereof, and a source of light controlled by said switch mechanism and disposed beneath the cover in light reflecting relation thereto. r

CHARLES OPALEK. 

